A JADE CONG
A JADE CONG
Jade
China, Late Neolithic, Liangzhu culture, c. 3300-2200 BC
This jade is published in Filippo Salviati 4000 YEARS OF CHINESE ARCHAIC JADES Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no. 55
The cong is one of the most peculiar types of jades created by the Liangzhu culture, and its basic shape is epitomized by the present example. This enigmatic object, whose exact function has not yet been fully understood, has an external squared section and an internal, cylindrical perforation. The triangular registers carved on the exterior of the cong are always decorated with stylized masks, the most widespread motif seen on Liangzhu jades. As illustrated in this example, the masks incised at the corners of the cong are of two types. Those carved in the top registers have anthropomorphic features, with a short bar standing for the mouth, small rounded eyes rendered by two concentric circles and two parallel bands on the top filled with striated lines. The second type of mask is zoomorphic and is characterized by round, slanting eyes joined by a slightly arched bar. The present cong has a wide perforation and thin walls, so that it looks like a cylinder with the rectangular panels projecting from its surface. By virtue of its small size and large central perforation, this type of cong is labelled ‘bracelet-shaped’ cong.
Dimensions: 5.4 x 5.4 CM, DIAMETER PERFORATION 4.4 CM
Condition: Undamaged
Provenance: Austrian private collection